Anti-hunting groups’ attempt to pass two bills to permanently ban wolf in Minnesota comes up short when both bills expired.

Anti-hunting politicians’ introduction of Senate bill 2969 and House Bill 3816 in attempts to permanently prohibit an established wolf season in the Gopher State fell short. The Sportsmen’s Alliance reported both bills expired before the Minnesota General Assembly adjourned for the year.

Anti-hunting groups continue to fight a potential wolf season despite the Great Lakes region far exceeding wolf population goals that were set by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) when wolves were listed on the endangered list.

The narrative of wolf hunting in the Great Lakes region changed in 2014 when talk of removing them from the endangered list. Since, the ruling has gone back and forth. Now, even with a potential overpopulation becoming a concern, states are not permitted to control wolf numbers because anti-hunting groups’ lawsuit went through the federal court system.